a public-house, one drank, sang and argued about " la liberté ". The principal members of the

" Convention " could be found there (Danton, Marat, Saint-Just and Robespierre),

and numerous trials were conducted on the spot (followed by peremptory executions). You will

find there one after another, the court room, the prison, the place of execution. In the lower

room, there still exists a very deep well, used to remove all evidence of the crimes committed

there. These rooms are unquestionably authentic, historically accurate, and preserved in their

original state. Arms from that epoch still decorate the walls (swords, muskets, etc and

jealousy guarded : a chastity belt).

After the war

While Paris was celebrating its liberty once again after the war, a new kind of music from over the Atlantic settledin around Saint-Germain des Près : Jazz invaded the cellars and hot spots of Paris. The GI's brought in swing andbe-bop, and dance exploded on the scene, dance floor acrobatics complementing frenzied rythms.

Number 5 rue de la Huchette saw the opening of one of these small clubs, soon to become the temple of New-Orleans Jazz and be-bop in Paris. In fact, it was the first club in Paris where jazz was played. No one at the Caveau de la Huchette will ever forget Sidney Bechet's colossal jam sessions ! On May 1976, the Caveau celebrated its 30th birthday :for the occasion Lionel Hampton and his Big Band gave two unforgettable concerts and Dany Doriz, the owner, played duet with Lionel Hampton over the same vibes. From those days on, the Caveau de la Huchette has perpetuated the same rich tradition and a jazz band performs every evenings for the pleasure of jazz lovers. Among them, too, excellent be-bop dancers are stills to be found.

The Caveau de la Huchette has been the set for many a movie, as well. An inspiring spot for film directors, the Caveau de la Huchette has lent its famous ambience to many films : " les Tricheurs " of Marcel Carné, " Rouge Baiser " of Vera Belmont, " la Première Fois " of Claude Berri… Whether you are just a jazz-lover, like to dance your socks off, or are a professional musician, the exceptional atmosphere of the club will remind you of the Cotton Club and the Savoy in their glory days. So, let yourself go… but, be advised, this club has a standard to live up to !